Golf ball cleaner



J. GROMMES Dec. 7, 1965 GOLF BALL CLEANER Filed Dec.

INVENTOR.

JOHN GO/VIM5S A r7oxvz=rs United States Patent O 3,221,355 GLF BALL CLEANER .olm Grammes, 12785 Hartwell, Detrcit, Mich. Filed Dec. 4, 1961, Set. No. 156,662 8 Claims. (Cl. -160) This invention relates to a portable cleaning device for golf halls.

It is Very desirable in a game of golf to use balls which are free of dirt and have a clean white surface. Accumulations on the ball may affect its roll, especially when putting and, additionally, render it more diflicult to locate should it inadvertently end up in the rough. Permanently positioned golf ball cleaners are usually provided at spaced locations around the course. Thus, a golfer must carry a supply of clean halls, using a new one whenever the one he has previously been playing with becomes dirty and then when he reaches one of the permanently installed cleaners, he will clean his whole supply of balls. Often, however, these permanently positioned cleaners are in disrepair or otherwise unsatisfactory for want of cleaning solution. Moreover, these permanently positioned cleaners are not strategically placed to concide with an individual golfers need which Often depends on fortuitous circumstances.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide 21 portable golf ball cleaner of minimum size which may be carried about by the golfer and used in accordance With his needs, which provides efficient cleaning when used with a liquid cleaning solution, such as a detergent or the like and yet is tidy and simple to operate.

More particularly, this invention contemplates a portable golf ball cleaner having a particular arrangement of cleaning brushes which in combination With other parts of the device facilitate eflicient cleaning and positive positioning of the ball in an easily retrievable position when cleaning is completed.

The invention in its preferred embodiment uses a hollow cylindrical case or shell which is closed at one end to contain a cleaning solution and has radially inward extending bristles arranged in a particular pattern on the interior of the case. When a ball to be cleaned is placed in the open end, it rests upon a row of stif but flexible bristles and can be easily grasped by the operator. It is here noted that the ball can be cause to assume this same position at the completion of the cleaning operation With infallible predictability. A removable cup-like cap having a concave cross section to accommodate a substantial part of the ball may be tightly secured in place over the mouth of the cylindrical shell. Shaking the container in its axial direction causes relative motion between the bristles and the ball, the bristles scrubbing the ball clean. Particularly eflicient scrubbing may be obtained by arranging the bristles to present axially-extending, helical, brushing surfaces which cause the ball to rotate as it moves axially within the cleaning device.

Further advantages will be apparent in light of the following description when read in conjunction With the accompanying drawings.

T he various views may be briefly described as:

FIGURE 1, a plan view of the preferred embodiment having a lower cut-away portion to expose the particular helically arranged bristles.

FIGURE 2, a cross-section view on limes 22 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the circumferential spacings of the brushes, only brushes nearest the cut being shown.

FIGURE 3, a sectional view of the upper end With the cap secured in place showing the sealing and locking mechanisms and additionally the axial arrangement of the retaining and brushing bristles.

FIGURE 4, a top view of the device With the cap re-- moved illustrating the locking flanges which secure the top in place.

FIGURE 5, a view of the cap looking into its interior and illustrating the sealing and locking mechanisms carried thereon.

FIGURE 6 illustrates alternative embodiments of the dome-shaped cap and the golf ball positioning means.

In the drawings:

The case of the cleaner is shown as a hollow cylindrical body 1 having a closed lower end 2 and an open upper end 4, illustrated in FIGURE 1 as being covered With a removable dome-shaped cap 5. Brushing material indicated generally at 6, 7 and 8 is located Within the cylindrical body and extends radially inward to define a cylindrical brushing surface 9 having a diameter slightly less than the exterior of an ordinary golf ball 10. While preferably the brushing material comprises bristle tulfs Il, other material such as matting or sponges could be used.

These brushes are arranged in circumferential groups 6, 7 and 8, as best illustrated in FIGURE 2, which fo1m helical brushing surfaces 6, 7, 8' as the progress from the open to the closed end. Each helical brushing surface includes a plurality of bristle tutfs 11 which are shown in both Vertical and horizontal alignment but may be positioned at random Within the helical surface. The bristle may be in a suitable binder or attached directly to the side Walls by techniques well known to the art. Pref erably, the bristles are embedded in a removable sleeve 12 to facilitate replacement should they become worn.

For my preferred embodiment I have found that three groups of bristles having centers approximately apart impart sufiicient rotation to the ball for efficient cleaning. As shown in FIGURE 1, the bristle tufs 11 in these groups are circumferentially staggered progressively along the axis of the cylinder to form the helical brushing surfaces 6, 7 8 previously referred to. Each helical surface has a pitch two or three times the length of the cylindrical container. It is also noted that the circumferential spacing 13 between the rows of bristles tuiTs in each group, is less the spacing J13 between adjacent groups to obtain the discrete helical brushing surfaces.

Another important aspect of my invention is best illustrated in FIGURE 3 and is directed to a novel arrangement for assuring simple and easy removal of the ball after the cleaning operation. To accomplish this purpose, I provide a substantially continuons circumferential row of stilf retaining tuffs 14, sufliciently rigid to retain the ball in the position shown in FIGURE 3 at the completion of the cleaning operation. An operator can cause the ball to assume this position With complete dependability by merely pointing the cap downward during the last shaking motion or, alternatively, irrespective of the containers orientation, terminate the shaking operation when he hears an audible clicking produced by the ball striking the interior surface 15 of the cap 5. Preferably more than half of the ball will be held in this easily retrievable position by the stitf retaining bristles I4. It will be noted that the cap has interior dimensions slightly greater than et golf ball 50 as to loosely confine the ball when it rests on the stiff tufis 14 With about a /m" clearance between the ball and the top of the cap. This loose confining permits a sort of lost motion when the ball clears the bristles 14 and aids in assuring proper positioning of the ball for easy removal. With the ball in this position, the cap may be removed and the ball easily retrieved from the cleaner. It should be understood that any suitable flexible annular retaining means could be substituted for the stiff bristles 14 as, for example, an inwardly extending annular washer sufficiently flexible to permit axial motion of the ball put yet sufliciently rigid to retain it in a raised position upon completion of the cleaning operation. In FIGURE 6, a flexible sealing Wa-sher 14 is provided in cap 5 with an inner diameter to retain the ball at the top of the stroke. Cap 5' in this view is a snapon cap of flexible material.

An ancillary advantage is obtained by using stifi retaining bristle tufrs 14 since they are also effective to provide a stiff brushing action during the cleaning but since they have no appreciable axial extent, they do not unduly interfere With axial movement of the ball during shaking.

To efiectively seal the device both when it is being used and when it is merely being carried, I provide an outwardly extending radial flange 22 at the mouth of the case. On the cap 5 is, a corresponding outwardly extending U-shaped flange 16 having an upper outwardlyextending leg 17 and a lower bent-back leg 18. A sealing washer 19 is carried by the upper portion 17 of the flange so that it engages the annular flange 22 on the case when the cap is locked in place.

As a locking device, I provide a plurality of projections or teeth 20 on the outwardly extending flange 15 that slip through peripheral slots 21 in the bent-back leg 12 of the U-shaped flange 16. As shown by the cutaway 21 of FIGURE 3, the projections or teeth 20 may be slightly inclined horizontally to assure a tight seal by camming the cap downward as the teeth engage the bent-back leg 18 when the cap is rotated. It should be understood, however, that any number of locking devices may be used and moreover that the cap could be constructed of a resilient material as in FIGURE 6 so that it merely snaps over the mouth of the case.

It Will be clear that the device is of such a size that it can be conveniently carried in a golfers jacket pocket or in the pocket of a golf bag. It can also be provided With a fastening device, such as a clip (mot shown), which can be used to fasten the unit to a golf bag or golf cart. It might also be carried on a belt by a caddy or a golfer.

While a specific golf bal] cleaner has been herein described in detail, it Will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable golf ball cleaning device adapted to contain a cleansing medium, comprising an elongated tubular body having a closed end and an open end Which is adapted to receive a golf ball, 3. removable closure for sealably engaging said open end, brushing means witbin said tubular body, said brushing means comprising brush material extending radially inward from said tubular body, the radially inward ends of said brush material defining an axially extending cylindrical brushing surface, said brushing means comprising a sole means for guiding and supporting said ball in a cylindrical chamber formed by said cylindrical brushing surface during a cleaning operation, said device having no parts axially movable within said chamber whereby when said ball is witbin said chamber and said open end is sealed by said closure, said ball may be moved axially witbin said chamber by shaking said device, said closure having a concave interior for accommodating a substantial portion of said ball, and a flexible retaining means adjacent said open end for retaining a substantial portion of a golf ball in an easily retrievable portion upon completion of a cleaning operation.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible retaining means comprises a substantially continuons circumferential row of brushing material adjacent said open end and witbin said tubular body, said retaining brush material being stifler than the brush material of said brushing means to retain a substantial portion of a golf ball in an easily retrievable position exterior of said open end upon completion of a cleaning operation.

3. A portable golf ball cleaning device adapted to contain a cleansing medium, comprising an elongated tubular body having a closed end and an open end Which is adapted to receive a golf ball, a removable closure for sealably engaging said open end, brushing means witbin said tubular body, said brushing means comprising brush material extending radially inward from said tubular body, the radially inward ends of said brush material defining an axially extending cylindrical brushing surface, said brushing means comprising a sole means for guiding and supporting said ball in a cylindrical chamber formed by said cylindrical brushing surface during a cleaning operatien, said device having no parts axially movable witbin said chamber whereby when said ball is witbin said chamber and said open end is sealed by said closure, said ball may be moved axially witbin said chamber by shaking said device, said tubular body having a radial flange adjacent said open end, said removable closure having a corresponding radial fiange With an annular seal thereon, said device further comprising locking means for tightly maintaining said seal between said radial flanges when said device is in a closed position, said closure having a concave interior for accommodating a substantial portion of said ball, and said annular seal having an inside diameter that is smaller than the diameter of said ball to retain a substantial portion of said ball in an easily retrievable position upon completion of a cleaning operation.

4. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible retaining means comprises brushing material.

5. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said brush material is arranged to form a plurality of axially extending helical brushing surfaces whereby rotation is imparted to a golf ball moving axially within said tubular body.

6. A golf ball cleaning device adapted to contain a cleansing medium, comprising an elongated tubular body having a closed end and an open end, said open end being adapted to receive a golf ball, a cap sealably closing said open end, and brushing means witbin said tubular body, said brushing means comprising brushing material extending radially inward from said tubular body, the radially inward ends of said brush material defining an axially extending cylindrical brush surface, said brushing means comprising a sole means for guiding and supporting said ball in a cylindrical chamber formed by said brushing surface during a cleaning operation, said device having no parts axially movable witbin said chamber, said ball being free to move axially of said body in engagement With said brushing surface due to the momentum of said ball when said ball is sealed in said device and said device is shaken to impart momentum to said ball, said brush material being arranged to form a plurality of axially extending helical brushing surfaces whereby rotation is imparted to a golf ball moving axially within said tubular body.

7. A golf ball cleaning device adapted to contain a cleansing medium, comprising an elongated tubular body having a closed end and an open end, said open end being adapted to receive a golf ball, 3. cap sealably closing said open end, and brushing means Within said tubular body, said brushing means comprising brushing material extending radially inward from said tubular body, the radially inward ends of said brush material defining an axially extending cylindrical brush surface, said brushing means comprising a sole means for guiding and supporting said ball in a cylindrical chamber formed by said brushing surface during a cleaning operation, said device having no parts axially movable witbin said chamber, said ball being free to move axially of said body in engagement with said brushing surface due to the momentum of said ball when said ball is sealed in said device and said device is shaken to impart momentum to said ball, said brush material comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending, helical brushing surfaces, each of said helical brushing surfaces containing a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending, helical rows of bristle tuffs, said circumferential spacing between said rows being less than the circumferential spacing between said helical brushing surfaces.

8. A golf hall cleaning device adapted to contain a cleansing medium, comprising an elongated tubular body having a closed end and an open end, said open being adapted to receive a golf ball, an imperforate closure for sealably closing said open end, and brushing means Within said tubular body, said brushing means comprising brush material extending radially inward from said tubular body, the radially inward ends of said brush material defining an axially extending cylindrical brushing surface, said ball being free to move axially of said body in engagement With said brushing surface due to the momenturn of said ball When said bal] is sealed in said device and said device is shaken to impart momentum to said hall, said closure having a concave interior for accommodating a substantial portion of said bal], and flexible means adjacent said open end for retaining a substantial portion of said ball exterior of said tubular body and Within said concave interior of said closure at the termination of a cleaning opera- 20 tion.

ReEerences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Bliss 25972 Oakford 15-3.2 X

Redmond 68213 Reach 1521.1

Mortrude 259-72 Battle 1346 Sharf et al. 1346 Di Gesare 15210 Pruett.

Brandenburg 68213 Garske 1521.1 Vandervort et al. 1521.1

Kaheny 15-210 Farmer 68213 Belgium.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Pnmary Examiner. 

6. A GOLF BALL CLEANING DEVICE ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A CLEANSING MEDIUM, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR BODY HAVING A CLOSED END AND AN OPEN END, SAID OPEN END BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A GOLF BALL, A CAP SEALABLY CLOSING SAID OPEN END, AND BRUSHING MEANS WITHIN SAID TUBULAR BODY, SAID BRUSHING MEANS COMPRISING BRUSHING MATERIAL EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARD FROM SAID TUBULAR BODY, THE RADIALLY INWARD ENDS OF SAID BRUSH MATERIAL DEFINING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING CYLINDRICAL BRUSH SURFACE, SAID BRUSHING MEANS COMPRISING A SOLE MEANS FOR GUIDING AND SUPPORTING SAID BALL IN A CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER FORMED BY SAID BRUSHING SURFACE DURING A CLEANING OPERATION, SAID DEVICE HAVING NO PARTS AXIALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, SAID BALL BEING FREE TO MOVE AXIALLY OF SAID BODY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BRUSHING SURFACE DUE TO THE MOMENTUM OF SAID BALL WHEN 